Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
j. 1. C. Who have been unserved or underserved by the VR program;
Current Narrative:
The following is a summary of survey questions and responses in regard to unserved or underserved populations:
Who is not being served well enough?
Highest reported responses by combined respondents:
- Individuals with mental health conditions 13.40%
- Individuals with the most significant disabilities (need more support to get and keep job) 13.09%
- Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities 7.95%
- Individuals with autism 7.75%
- Individuals residing in rural areas 7.40%
Highest reported responses by respondents reporting as a person with a disability:
- Individuals with mental health conditions 13.18%
- Individuals with the most significant disabilities (need more support to get and keep a job) 12.27%
- Individuals with disabilities pursuing career paths and advanced degrees 7.58%
- Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities 5.78%
- Individuals with traumatic brain injuries 5.60%
- Individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing 5.60%
While both groups reported individuals with mental health diagnosis and individuals with the most significant disabilities as the top two populations not being well enough, respondents with disabilities included individuals pursuing career paths and advanced degrees, individuals with traumatic brain injury, and individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing as top populations not being served well enough. Combined respondents included individuals with autism and individuals residing in rural areas as top populations not being served well enough.
What would improve services for the underserved populations you selected in the previous question?
Highest reported improvements by combined respondents:
- Increased outreach about available programs and services 21.60%
- Improved transportation options 20.46%
- Increased training for employment specialists or job coaches 14.38%
- Diversity, equity and inclusion training for staff 13.06%
- Ways to address language barriers 9.27%
Highest reported improvements by respondents reporting as a person with a disability:
- Increased outreach about available programs and services 20.21%
- Improved transportation options 17.75%
- Diversity, equity and inclusion training for staff 15.54%
- Increased training for employment specialists or job coaches 11.40%
- Review of policies and practices to ensure equitable access to services 11.14%
Respondents with disabilities ranked diversity, equity and inclusion training for staff above increased training for employment specialists or job coaches, in contrast to combined respondents. Respondents with disabilities included review of policies and practices to ensure equitable access in their top 5, while combined respondents did not. Combined respondents included ways to address language barriers in their top 5, while respondents with disabilities did not.